How to Cite Interviews in APA Format

Interviews provide firsthand accounts, expert perspectives, and primary source material invaluable to research. Whether you're citing a personal interview you conducted, a published interview from a magazine, or a broadcast interview from NPR, understanding APA 7th edition interview citation format ensures proper documentation of these human sources while maintaining ethical research standards.

Understanding Interview Citations

Interviews serve as primary sources in qualitative research, journalism, oral history, and many other fields. The citation format varies significantly based on whether the interview is personal (unpublished) or published/broadcast. Personal interviews you conduct yourself are cited differently than interviews published in media outlets. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for proper documentation and helps readers understand the accessibility and verifiability of your sources.

APA 7th edition treats personal communications (including personal interviews) as unrecoverable sources that readers cannot access. These receive in-text citations only, without reference list entries. Published or broadcast interviews, however, receive full citations as recoverable sources. This guide covers both types to help you properly document all interview sources in your research.

Basic Formats for Interview Citations

In-text Citation:

• Personal interview: (Initials. Last Name, personal communication, Month Day, Year)
• Published interview: (Interviewer or Interviewee, Year)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Determine Interview Type

First, identify whether the interview is personal (you conducted it yourself, via email, phone, or in person) or published/broadcast (appeared in media outlets where readers can access it). Personal interviews are cited as personal communications in-text only. Published or broadcast interviews receive full reference list entries.

Step 2: Identify the Appropriate Author

For published interviews, the author depends on the context. In magazine or newspaper interviews, the interviewer is typically the author. For broadcast interviews on interview programs, the host may be the author. If the interview focuses on the interviewee's expertise and you're citing their statements, you might list the interviewee. Use your judgment based on who provides the cited content.

Step 3: Record the Date

For personal interviews, use the complete date you conducted the interview (Month Day, Year) in your in-text citation. For published or broadcast interviews, use the publication or air date in the reference list entry (Year, Month Day).

Step 4: Format the Title

Published interviews may have article titles or may simply be titled "Interview with [Name]." Use whatever title appears in the publication, formatted in sentence case. Follow with [Interview] in brackets to clarify the source type.

Step 5: Include Publication or Broadcast Information

For published interviews, include the magazine, newspaper, or website name in italics. For broadcast interviews, include the program name in italics and the network or platform. This follows similar formatting to regular articles or media content.

Step 6: Add URL If Available

For published or broadcast interviews accessible online, include the direct URL. This allows readers to access the interview content themselves, making it a recoverable source.

Detailed Examples

Example 1: Personal Interview (In-text Citation Only)

Example 2: Published Interview in Magazine

Example 3: Broadcast Interview (NPR or Radio)

Example 4: Television Interview

Example 5: Online Interview (Website or YouTube)

Example 6: Research Interview (Published in Appendix or Supplement)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Creating Reference Entries for Personal Interviews

The most common error is creating a reference list entry for personal interviews you conducted. These are cited in-text only as personal communications. Only published or broadcast interviews accessible to readers go in the reference list.

2. Using "Personal Communication" for Published Interviews

Interviews published in magazines, broadcast on radio or TV, or available on websites are not personal communications. They're recoverable sources that require full reference list entries.

3. Confusing Interviewee and Interviewer

Determine who provides the content you're citing. Typically the interviewer is the author (they shaped the conversation and published it), but if you're citing the interviewee's expert statements, you might list them first or mention them prominently.

4. Omitting [Interview] Descriptor

Always include [Interview], [Audio interview], [Video interview], or [Television interview] in brackets after the title. This clarifies the source type for readers.

5. Incomplete Dates for Personal Communications

Personal interview citations require the complete date: Month Day, Year. Using only the year is insufficient for personal communications.

6. Not Obtaining Permission

When citing personal interviews, ensure participants understand their statements may be published in your research. Follow ethical research guidelines and IRB requirements for human subjects research.

7. Citing Email Interviews Incorrectly

Email interviews are personal communications cited in-text only, unless the email exchange has been published or archived in an accessible location.

Quick Reference Guide

Types of Interviews and How to Cite Them

• Face-to-face interview you conducted: Personal communication, in-text only
• Phone interview you conducted: Personal communication, in-text only
• Email interview you conducted: Personal communication, in-text only
• Magazine interview: Full reference entry
• Newspaper interview: Full reference entry
• Radio/podcast interview: Full reference entry
• TV interview: Full reference entry
• YouTube interview: Full reference entry
• Published research interview transcript: Full reference entry

Ethical Considerations for Personal Interviews

When conducting and citing personal interviews, consider these ethical guidelines:

• Obtain informed consent from interviewees before conducting interviews
• Explain how you'll use their statements in your research
• Follow your institution's IRB (Institutional Review Board) requirements
• Consider whether to use real names or pseudonyms based on sensitivity
• Protect confidential information as promised to participants
• Store interview recordings and transcripts securely
• Represent interviewees' statements accurately and in context

Research Interviews vs. Published Interviews

Understanding the distinction between research interviews you conduct and published interviews in media:

Research Interviews (Personal Communications)

• You conducted the interview as part of your research
• Participants are research subjects, not public figures
• Not published or publicly accessible
• Cited in-text only, no reference list entry
• Requires IRB approval in most cases

Published/Broadcast Interviews

• Professional journalists or interviewers conducted the interview
• Published in media outlets or broadcast publicly
• Accessible to readers through URLs or archives
• Full reference list entry required
• No IRB approval needed (already public)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cite a personal interview in my reference list?

No. Personal interviews are cited in-text only as personal communications because readers cannot access them to verify your sources. Only published or broadcast interviews receive reference list entries.

What if I have the interview transcript?

If you conducted the interview and have a transcript, it's still a personal communication cited in-text only unless you've published the transcript in a supplemental materials repository where readers can access it.

Do I cite the interviewer or interviewee?

For published interviews, typically cite the interviewer as they created and published the content. However, if you're specifically citing the interviewee's expert statements, you might reference them in your text while keeping the interviewer as the citation author, or use your judgment about who to list first.

How do I cite a group interview?

Group interviews you conducted are still personal communications cited in-text. Published group interviews or panel discussions might be cited as [Panel discussion] or similar descriptors with all participants noted.

What about interviews from oral history archives?

Oral history interviews archived and accessible in libraries or online repositories receive full reference list entries. Cite them similarly to published interviews, noting the archive and accession information.

Should I include the interview questions?

No. Citation format doesn't include interview questions. If questions are relevant to your discussion, mention them in your text, not the citation.

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